Blue Note in Europe

While rival jazz label Prestige licensed recordings for local manufacture in many European countries, original Blue Note records pre-1966 were manufactured and distributed solely for the US domestic market.

Blue Note’s subsequent owners Liberty Records and United Artists first licensed Blue Note recordings for manufacture overseas, using the Blue Note trademark under license. Only a restricted number of fairly contemporary titles appear from this period and it was not until EMI ownership in the Eighties that an effort was made to reissue a significant amount of the Blue Note catalogue in Europe, through the French Pathe-Marconi.

Division of Liberty Records (1966-70)

1. German Liberty Blue Note

1969 Stereo from Blue Note Records during the Liberty years under ownership of Transamerica Corporation. Recorded by Van Gelder in 1968, this Duke Pearson recording was a first release by Liberty.

Unusually, the Liberty catalogue number bears the Suffix letter “K.” “VAN GELDER” and “Made in Germany” is stamped in the trail-off. Label design to basic Division of Liberty labels (except chopping off part of the “R” registered trademark) except the addition of GEMA logo – the German copyright/licencing organisation, and copyright declaration in German around the rim.

2. Italian Liberty Blue Note

From a collection of five Liberty Blue Note records purchased in Italy by LJC reader Francesco. VAN GELDER and STEREO machine stamp in the trail-off suggests Liberty supplied stampers, but never before seen, a machine stamp “BLUE NOTE” – suggesting a third party contract pressing. The BIEM royalty collection organisation logo appears in place of the usual “Side 1” and all the details unique to the recording are in slightly different colour ink to the label, indicating printing by a third party onto “blank” stock Liberty Labels (a practice seen briefly during the early United Artists Blue Note years)

(Picture courtesy of Francesco, photo retouched by LJC)

The absence of Transamerica branding on the liner notes (“Printed in USA”) may further suggest 1967-8 provenance, though it is noted the German Liberty jackets are similarly “Printed in USA”, which may not be the actual case. My thanks to Francesco for bringing these previously unknown European variations to LJC.

Division of United Artists (1970-79)

1. UK United Artists Blue Note

United Artists Music and Records Group Inc. licensed manufacture and distribution of Blue Note recordings in the UK through their own subsidiary United Artists Records Ltd, and in the mid to late Seventies the first UK pressings appeared.

1a) BNS series

1b) LT series

The last-flowering of United Artists Blue Note, the Liberty/United Records LT series – previously unreleased recordings from the Blue Note vaults, seen below in the “Jazz File” series for UK release (LBR catalogue numbers)

2. United Artists France Blue Note

Two-language liner notes

3. Germany: United Artists GMBH

(Photo courtesy of Antonio)

Given the large number of US servicemen stationed at military bases in post-war West Germany, for many decades, there may well have been a good market for jazz records in Germany, or at least for armed forces radio station play.

4. Belgium – United Artists Blue Note

SABAM royalties collection agency identifies this as a Belgian release, though the label claims “Made in USA”, suggesting an import rather than local pressing.

Paris-based label founded in 2007 by Franck Descollonges previously of Virgin Records, and Antoine Rajon, formerly artistic director and founder of the label Isma’a and Parisjazzcorner.com site. Independent productions of early 70’s jazz , and modern electronic dance genres.

I can’t find any mention of this album- please note musicians. Can you tell me a little about this label as well? Sorry I can’t copy and paste. The blue note label is blue and yellow. One side is called Moody’s mood and it has the number 1565-A. Please let me know if additional information is needed.

Hi,
i recently got this copy, and i can’t find this label on your site. Can you please help? Thanks!
(Btw, audio quality is same as my digital version….)
this is the link to the label photo ——- http://postimg.org/image/tq19242vr/

When Blue Note was still Blue Note, in the beginning, in the 10″ era, Blue Note had a licensing agreement with Vogue, France and Vogue U.K. Vogue issued Blue Note material under the Vogue and Jazz Sélection labels. Thus nine Blue Notes have been issued in Europe, always with the reference (on the labels) to “Blue Note Records, New York”. Not counting the original Vogue recordings which were issued in the US under licence to Blue Note, I count the following European Blue Notes:

I’ve just seen two of these Vogue 10-inch records “in the flesh” and may buy them. Does anybody have any knowledge of the quality of the pressings. The two I’ve seen are Horace Silver (a Vogue licenced issue of BNLP 5018) and Clifford Brown (a Vogue licenced issue of BNLP 5032). Both have the Blue Catalogue numbers etched in the deadwax but no Van Gelder/RVG markings.

I went back to look at them more closely today and, with a heavy heart, I opted not to buy them. Three reasons really: first, they weren’t in sufficiently good condition for me to feel comfortable (a number of scratches and pits that I think would be too audible for me to tolerate); second, I’ve become much more of a quality over quantity collector as time has gone by (I probably buy in the region of 10-12 records a year); thirdly, I have other irons in the fire where I’d prefer to focus my expenditure (in particular I am in contact with a private seller with whom I have a good, trustworthy relationship and he is about to offer me several items on my “want” list).

It’s a pity because I would have snapped up these two records had they been in prime condition. There is a definite romance to 10-inch records plus these two Vogue pressings would have been cost-effective alternatives to the original Blue Notes. Ah well, I shall console myself with self-congratulation about being strong willed in the face of temptation.

I would have acted in the same fashion: quality is the name of the game. It is a tremendous pleasure to buy mintish originals, esp. a 10″ albums. But if they are not absolutely faultless, it is no fun, only frustration.

Hi, sorry I’m just a newbie but I came across this reissue that i don’t see mentioned in your european releases and thought it was worth mention it in case you didn’t know yet. I bought it and wasn’t very impressed with its quality. Nevertheless the cover is great it has a nice innersleeve. Here are the links:

Re: Elemental Music
Submitted by David_Cormier on Thu, 2014-04-03 00:22

The only of these Blue Note Elemental reissues I have is Kenny Burrell – Midnight Blue. To me it sounds very good and has great dynamic (first time I like the sound of congas that much). But I have never heard any other versions to compare and I have no clue if these are AAA. I would be curious to know too.”
………………………………………………………………………………..

That’s about all I could find about “Elemental Music”. Most on-line opinion is without reference to what an original pressing sounds like, but this guy is disarmingly honest , he says doesn’t know,which is commendable..

I come from a different place. Comparing with the original pressing, and nothing to sell, all modern reissues I have heard never fail to disappoint. The manufacturers lay on the hyperbole to push sales, which says only one thing to me: they either don’t know, or they think everyone else won’t know. Problem is, I know.

I have no idea what Elemental Music reissues sound like, and I have never heard of the company before now, so I can’t comment from experience. I am in favour of more people listening to Blue Note, and in that respect, I am all for another company reissuing them, especially in what looks like a legal licensed production.

I managed to pick up yesterday an Italian Pressing of Art Blakey Mosaic album, the label is dark blue in colour and has a white B present, number is BNST 36508, it also clearly says MADE IN ITALY. In the dead wax it says 17-7-78 their is also a symbol of some sought present. Was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the album? I can send images if need be. Cheers Lee

I have Volume 1 of Blue note’s Three Decades of jazz. its a two Lp set Commemorating the 30th anniversary. Mine just has the catalogue number and “Made in Germany” in the deadwax. It also has the “Electronically rechanneled” in the label.

Thanks for adding that! We have a copy of Blakey’s “Orgy In Rhythm Vol. 1” BST 81554 in that pressing, and I’ve wondered about it. “RVG STEREO” and “Made In Germany” in the deadwax. Terrific audio quality – the equal of any of our early Libertys.